Town accepts upweller donation

Seth Garfield from Northeast Maritime and Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farms has donated an upweller to Fairhaven.

Peggy Aulisio

FAIRHAVEN — Seth Garfield from Northeast Maritime and Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farms has donated an upweller to Fairhaven. He said the upweller is no longer being used at his farm.

Selectmen voted to accept the donation from Northeast Maritime at their meeting on Feb. 19.

The upweller is used in producing quahogs from seed. Mr. Garfield said the upweller pumps water into silos containing the quahog seed. The seedlings feed on plankton in the water.

The upweller would be located at Hoppy's Landing where there is access to electricity as well as water. Mr. Garfield said the production of quahogs from seed — to later be transplanted — "helps fishermen ultimately."

Shellfish Warden Timothy Cox said he hoped to get a grant under the Bouchard Oil Spill settlement to buy quahog seed.

Mr. Cox said the upweller needs minor repairs and that he could provide things like a hose.

Fisherman Robert Hobson said the quahogs from the propagation program using an upweller provide "a better product" than those obtained from the quahogs that are transplanted in the water.

Mr. Garfield said they want to have high school students get involved as a learning experience.

Mr. Cox said Boys and Girls Scouts could also get involved as they have in other towns.